“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
The Life of Reason (1905-1906) by George Santayana
I sat at home early this morning listening to the news. Often these days I listen for the sake of hearing the news about the weather, and the news about sports. As for the rest of news broadcast, I find it sad and disappointing, for it always lacks truthfulness, thoughtfulness, and substance. Moreover, it never seems to discuss the essence of the topics that should be of most concern to the viewers. One of today’s topic, which I overheard in spite my personal attempts to prevent it, was a case in point:
Soon after I turned on the television, at the point in the broadcast I hoped was close to the weather and sports segments, the female reporter began the economic segment by reporting “The job numbers from yesterday show that growth is slow, and if this trend continues it could spell bad news for President Obama!”
I sat there wondering, “Does this reporter realizes she is omitting the true crux of this story? Does she remember that the Bush Tax Cuts were given to the richest Americans because they argued that that the cuts were going to reduce unemployment by creating jobs, and reduce our national deficit by generating more revenues? Shouldn’t these tax cuts that are now in their twelfth year, along with the other lucrative state and federal tax incentives be the central topics of our national failure to achieve most economic growth?
I think we are a nation that quickly forget past promises: We have forgotten the republicans, at the start of Obama’s presidency demanding that the Bush Tax Cuts remain in place because “these cuts were going to create jobs and begin building a better future for our children.” We forgotten Speaker John Boehner, a year later making the same demand and using the same justification, “these cuts were going to create jobs and begin building a better future for our children.” Additionally, we’ve forgotten the huge recent fight over the national debt, when the Tea Party-Republicans insisted that the Bush Tax Cuts stay in place, as they made draconian budget cuts to entitlements.
It appears that we have forgotten all of it. And this is the fact upon which the republicans are building their hope: They know if we forget the “same promises” they made again and again and again in the past. They can make the “same promises” in the future!
As a matter of fact, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and the other republicans are doing it right now. They know that we have never held them accountable. We are being played, because we are forgetful.
And I (of one) don’t like one bit!
By
James A. Porter
